All Rocketry Blogs

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 1 Parts (2011-07-24)

I bought this one on Ebay. I'd read about a build by JeffyJeep on YORF and there was problems. I was interested to see if I got one of the older kits. I understand corrections have been made. It's a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 2 Engine Mount (2011-07-25)

In Step 1 you mark the engine mount tube. You are instructed to place the yellow motor mount tube over the square in the instructions, right over a printed ruler. The ruler is wrong! The drawn ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 3 Engine Mount (2011-07-25)

Before getting into Step 2 - I am not a big fan of the thin Quest yellow motor mount tubes. I understand the history behind them. Harry Stine used this yellow motor “sleeve” so 18mm engines ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 4 Engine Mount (2011-07-26)

The Kevlar and elastic shock cord is tied together with a simple overhand knot. Step 4 The Kevlar is tied to the blue thrust ring. I’d recommend notching the blue thrust ring before tying the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 5 Tube Marking (2011-07-26)

Step 6 Don’t mark the center tube (20 mm engine mount tube) for the fin lines yet!!! Wait until after the motor mount is glued in place. This way you won’t have to worry about lining the engine ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Part 6 Tube Cutting (2011-07-27)

Step 7 The only tubes that require a miter cut are the two outside exposed tubes! The center tube (motor mount tube) is under the two other larger tubes. Why bother cutting an angle in the front of ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Part 7 Engine Mount (2011-07-28)

Jumping ahead to Step 8 Don?t glue the mount in place yet! Here?s what the engine mount looked like when trying to slide the mount in with the tape wrap. I use black electrical tape. Believe me, ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Part 8 Engine Mount Gluing (2011-07-29)

The seam still showed after the CA treatment. I applied some Carpenter?s Wood Filler and sanded smooth. Ideally, I should have did the seam filling before the coat of CA for better adhesion of the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 9 Tube Gluing (2011-07-29)

Steps 9 and 10 Here's what you should have after gluing. While the instructions say to feed the shock cord and Kevlar through the front of the tube, again set it out the back, away from any glue and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 10 Gap Caps (2011-07-30)

Step 11 TIP: Make a center mark on the gap caps before cutting them out. You?ll need it as a reference to get it on the center tube center line. I wish the gap caps were die cut from heavier card ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 11 Gap Caps (2011-07-30)

Step 12 The instructions have you mark the front end of the center tube 1/8" from the top of the miter cut. Without making this miter cut, I have no reference to make this mark. Using the center ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 12 Mitre Tubes Fit (2011-07-31)

Here’s a test fit into the nose tube. You can see in the picture it is too large for a slip fit. As explained in the previous step, applying CA glue will stiffen it up enough to be sanded with 400 ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 13 Wings and Fins (2011-08-01)

This small front wing piece had to be cut down the middle. There was no laser cut line down the center of the two pieces. I drew that center line with a pencil and straightedge. This missing laser ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 14 Gluing Wings and Fins (2011-08-02)

Step 16 Before gluing the fins to the body tube, all balsa grain and launch lug seams were filled with thinned Carpenter?s Wood Filler and sanded smooth. The angle of the wing fins will be hard to ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 15 Strake? What Strake? (2011-08-02)

Step 20 You are directed to glue the Strake on the center line of the nose tube. There is no Strake piece on the laser cut balsa sheet! I did my best to cut one out using the cover art picture. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 16 Priming and Filling (2011-08-03)

Here's the nose cone after priming and sanding. You can see just a bit of the molding line left with primer filling the shallow areas. From Step 21 The wing tip tubes are glued and place and fillets ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 17 Scotch Tape Masking (2011-08-04)

I won't buy the expensive specialty masking tapes. I use Scotch Tape with good results. Before I get too far on masking, remember - You'll never get a clean masking line and color separation if the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 18 Black Paint (2011-08-04)

A plastic grocery bag was used to mask off most of the model. Cut off the bag handle, Stick over the nose cone end and tape in place. I'll have to go back and paint the black rudder underneath the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 19 Decals (2011-08-06)

This kit just gets more and more interesting. Mistakes, measurement errors, misspellings, no strake piece, badly cut parachute, thin gap cap stock - the list goes on. Don't get me wrong, I have had ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 20 Decals (2011-08-07)

The decal instructions are vague! The pictures are small and it's hard to tell where the decals go. The face card art didn't help much either. If you are building this model, be ready. The decals ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build Part 21 Canopy Decal (2011-08-08)

After pulling off the yellow and red "wing" decals I figured I'd just place the remaining decals wherever they felt right. Heck, it's already missing two sets of stars and bars. After all the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort FINISHED! (2011-08-08)

Even with a few hang ups during the build, this is a sharp design when finished. The landing gear door decals were too long to fit near the center of the wings, so I let them overhang and trimmed ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Revisited (2011-12-26)

I've only flown the Quest Escort AS-1 one time. I looked back on my July 7th flight on RocketReviews.com. Here's what I wrote: Not very stable. The rocket flew off at an angle with some wiggle in ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 1, Parts (2019-04-06)

I've built this one before on the blog, back in 2010. This model has proved to be a favorite. My first build has 20 flights, mainly schoolyard launches using Quest A6-4 engines.  It's showing ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 2, Engine Mount A (2019-04-08)

Here's a questionable first step. GOTCHA: The printed ruler and my metal ruler don't match up. If you set the yellow engine mount tube over the illustration the 1/2" mark would be off. The quality ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 3, Engine Mount B (2019-04-08)

The yellow tube is thin and will have to be reinforced. The rear edge got the usual wipe of medium CA. I also reinforced the engine hook slot after the bad cut was cleaned up with a sharp knife. The ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 4, Engine Mount C (2019-04-09)

At this point the instructions have you mark all the tubes using the tube marking guides. Instead of trying to align the engine hook with a line drawn on the tube, I find it easier to glue the hook ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 5, Tube Angle Cutting (2019-04-09)

There are three different diameter tubes and three miter cut guide wraps. (I had to take two pictures and combine them to the show hand position.)  TIP: You'll get a cleaner cut if you keep the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 6, Fins? (2019-04-10)

Please understand I don't mean to sound overly critical on this build. There were omissions and mistakes in the parts and instructions. The "Gotchas" are here to help out another builder. This kit ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 7, Gap Caps? (2019-04-11)

The gap caps are needed so the ejection charge doesn't blow out the back between the offset tubes. GOTCHA: These are printed on 110 lb. cardstock. While this thickness might work, I would rather ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 8, Fin Fill and Tube Gluing (2019-04-12)

The front edge of the two piece fins have a visible break. Some CWF is set on the seam. The inset picture shows sandpaper wrapped around a Q-tip stick. This was used to round off the filler corner. ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 9, Tube Joining (2019-04-13)

After sanding the gap cap, the tubes are dry fitted. The two 45 degree cut tubes should fit together. Here's what I don't understand. GOTCHA: The center tube has an angle cut - that ends up inside ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 11, Wing Tip Tubes (2019-04-14)

The wing tip tube (launch lugs) ends are cut at a 45 degree angle. TIP: I drew the angle on my cutting board so the angle would be consistent on both cuts. Use a new, sharp razor blade to cut launch ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 12, Prep and Undercoats (2019-04-15)

The nose cone is too loose in the body tube. You can do masking tape wraps or you can build up some "ribs" for a better fit. I applied a drop of medium CA glue to the nose cone shoulder. The wet ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 13, Masking The Black (2019-04-16)

The instructions have you paint the black first, mask and then spray the silver. This time around I sprayed the silver first. It's a little riskier this way, sometimes silver paint gets marred by ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 10, Wing and Fin Gluing (2019-04-17)

Whoops! I didn't post Part #10.  I'll go back in a day or so and place it in the correct order. The wing angle shown in the instructions is hard to achieve. GOTCHA: When I set the glue tacked ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Build, Part 14, Decal Problems (2019-04-18)

GOTCHA: This was one of those kits that didn't supply enough decals to match the face card or catalog illustrations. Many of the decals weren't drawn to fit the indicated areas. On the back the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Quest AS-1 Escort Finished and Comparisons (2019-04-19)

I mentioned at the start of the build this was a replacement for my older AS-1 Escort rocket built over five years ago. I really like this design, it's perfect with A engines at the schoolyard ... [Read More]